The Healing Remedies Sourcebook: Over 1,000 Natural Remedies to Prevent and Cure Common Ailments. C. Shealy Norman

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СКАЧАТЬ leaves and oil.

      Conditions Treated Basil can provide relief for colds, coughs, asthma, sinus congestion, headaches, arthritis, rheumatism, and fevers. Basil oil kills intestinal parasites, and as such is recommended for abdominal conditions, parasites, and stomachache. A basil poultice can be used to treat ringworm infections.

      Form Taken Basil can be drunk as a tea or juice, cooked into medicated ghee, used as an inhalation, massaged as a therapeutic oil, or made into a compress or poultice.

      Used with Other Herbs? Basil is wonderful when used in conjunction with camphor, rosemary, juniper, lemon, eucalyptus, myrtle, lavender, bergamot, lime, and clary sage. Great fragrances!

      HOW TO USE

       Basil reduces kapha and vátha, and increases pitta.

       It has a strong effect on the emotions, and can ease fear or sadness.

       CAUTION

       Avoid use when in a high pitta condition, because basil increases pitta. Use with care during pregnancy, as basil has been used as a menstruation promoter and labor inducer.

       PIPER LONGUM

       LONG PEPPER Pippali

      Native to India and Java, these peppers are gathered and stored to ripen for use, in order to preserve the greatest heat potency. Long pepper, or pippali, is the primary ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine to treat kapha disorders.

      PROPERTIES

       Long pepper is a pungent, heating stimulant. It has strong digestive, carminative, and emetic properties. Long pepper acts as a decongestant and expectorant. It is analgesic and warming, and increases the circulation.

      Part of Plant Used The fruit (pepper).

      Conditions Treated Asthma, bronchitis, throat problems, digestive disorders, disorders of the spleen. Externally, long pepper can be used for arthritis and muscle soreness. Taken internally, it is useful as a digestive aid and a treatment for colds, fever, toothache, diarrhea, and constipation.

      Form Taken As a powder, tea or infusion, food, or oil.

      Used with Other Herbs? Black pepper, fenugreek, ginger, turmeric.

      HOW TO USE

       Long pepper restores kapha and vátha to balance, invigorating sluggish kapha, and warming vátha’s coolness.

       Its warming action increases pitta.

       Use a pippali and rock salt tea to clear sore throats, sinus congestion, coughs, and hiccups.

       CAUTION

       Long pepper should not be given to children under two years old. Use rubber gloves when chopping peppers, as they may burn the fingertips. If burning should occur, wash with vinegar several times, rinsing carefully. Pepper oil can linger for several hours, and will cause severe pain if it comes in contact with sensitive tissues, such as eyes or genitals.

       PIPER NIGRUM

       BLACK PEPPER Marich, Mari

      In Ayurvedic traditions, black pepper or marich is named after the Sanskrit word for the sun. Black pepper contains very potent solar energy, and is a powerful digestive stimulant. Black pepper is rajasic, or energy-producing, in nature.

      PROPERTIES

       Black pepper has a heating and drying effect. The taste is pungent and bitter—both properties good for balancing an overabundance of kapha.

      Part of Plant Used The pepper kernel and the oil made from it.

      Conditions Treated Black pepper stimulates the plasma and the blood, nervous system, spleen, and reduces fat. It is beneficial for chronic indigestion, toxins in the colon, sinus congestion, and can stimulate the circulation to help warm cold hands and feet.

      Form Taken Take as a spice, as an oil, tea, or compress.

      Used with Other Herbs? Black pepper combines well with orange, ginger, cypress, anise, sandalwood, lemon, and basil.

      HOW TO USE

       Reduces kapha, increases pitta and vátha.

       Use in cooking as a stimulant—black pepper’s qualities are enhanced by heating.

       The oil can be used to clear sinus congestion and stimulate fat reduction.

       CAUTION

       Do not use in high pitta state or in cases of inflammation of the digestive organs. Overuse of stimulant herbs can impair your body’s natural balancing systems. If you find you are attracted to adding pepper to most of your food, then start cutting back.

       SANTALUM ALBUM

       SANDALWOOD Chandana

      Sandalwood is a small tree which grows primarily in southern Asia. While the aromatic wood is used to make scented carvings, the medicinal properties are in the oil, which can be pressed from the wood, or extracted with alcohol or water.

      PROPERTIES

       Bitter, sweet, astringent, cooling, moisturizing. Sandalwood is alterative, hemostatic, antipyretic, antiseptic, antibacterial, carminative, sedative, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac. It works as a nervine, an expectorant, a diuretic, a disinfectant, and a moisturizer. It also helps to regenerate tissues.

      Part of Plant Used The wood.

      Conditions Treated Sandalwood has been used to treat cystitis, urethritis, vaginitis, acute dermatitis, herpes, bronchitis, palpitations, gonorrhea, sunstroke, dry skin, acne, laryngitis, nausea, tuberculosis, depression, insomnia, prostatitis, nervousness, anxiety, and impotence. Sandalwood can cure skin problems that are bacterial in origin.

      Form Taken In perfumes and massage oils; as a gargle, lotion, bath, inhalation, compress, or douche.

      Used with Other Herbs? Clove, geranium, musk, myrrh, tuberose, vetiver.

      HOW TO USE

       Reduces pitta and vátha, and has a neutral effect on kapha.

       A sandalwood decoction will reduce fever if taken internally; externally, it can be used to treat acne and other skin problems.

       To make a decoction, boil 1 heaped teaspoon of sandalwood in 1 cup of water. Cover and boil for several minutes. Strain and cool. СКАЧАТЬ